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closures, personnel and equipment near, or crossing, runways, and airport lighting that doesn’t affect instrument approaches, such as VASI.Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAMs (may not be covered in a AFSS briefing)The National Flight Data Center will issue these NOTAMs and the information is regulatory in nature. They contain changes to IAPs and other aeronautical charts. They are also used to announce TFRs.Pointer NOTAMsThese are NOTAMs issued to highlight or point out another NOTAM, such as an FDC or NOTAM (D). This type of NOTAM will assist in cross-referencing information that may not be found under an airport or NAVAID identifier.Special Activity Airspace (SAA) NOTAMsSAA NOTAMs are issued when a MOA, restricted or warning area or military training route will be active outside the published schedule times.NTAP NOTAMsNOTAMs published every 28 days. These are typically long-term NOTAMs and ones that have been transferred or “rolled over” from the D NOTAMs.You will notice that little was said about the Airport/Facility Directory, Airport Guide or Airport Directory. These are all names used to describe the same thing: information suppliedby the airport operators about things in and around their facility. This may be the only source for such things as seasonal and day/night runway closures or conditions, wildlife activity and regularly-scheduled or special events. The A/FD is where we would have found the information about Lewiston’s runway 3 from the opening scenario.Almost all airports will have A/FD notes, some of a critically important nature. Examples of A/ FD notes I have encountered include ones at Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront (BKL), which closes the inboard runway when the tower is closed, Mt. Pleasant, MI (MOP) has a lot of parachute jumping and Madison, WI (MSN) has some military-only taxiways. However, there are several accounts where the airport operator was cavalier or inaccurate in the publishing of safety-related airfield conditions. In each case, the pilot had consulted all NOTAMs and the A/FD, only to encounter different or additional unannounced conditions. One pilot found the field closed to all traffic due to a kite-flying festival, another lost part of his landing gear when he struck a ten-inch cement barrier at the approach end of a runway, and yet-another barely avoided men and equipment on the runway. And the day-use only, snow and lighting account at Lewiston’s runway 3 is a true, albeit modestly- embellished, chronicle.Executive SummaryThe FARs say that we must become familiar with all informationpertaining to our flight. That includes the Airport/Facility Directory and FDC NOTAMs. AFSS will have an Airport/Facility Directory, along with all five types of NOTAMs. After you give them your ID, route of flight and ask for a standard briefing, add that you would also like any FDC NOTAMs and the notes from the Airport/Facility Directory for your destination and alternates. If using an EFB (electronic flight bag) to research the A/FD, heads up: my EFB had wrong data for BKL but AFSS had the correct data – which I confirmed with BKL tower on the phone. Sometimes, due to human error or an unplanned event, such as a disabled aircraft or no-notice snow removal, all the NOTAMs and A/ FDs in the world won’t be adequate – and that’s why it’s good to have an alternate, even when not required by the FARs.If you find yourself in a situationin which you really need yourdestination or alternate to be openand available for arrival, one sure wayis to have ARTCC call the destinationtower to confirm conditions andstatus. It seems we sometimes haveto dig pretty deep to get the facts.But, if you find yourself low on fuel,if you don’t have skis on your plane,or, even worse, you need to get toyoudid.T&T •a potty quickly, you’ll be glad thatKevin Dingman has been flying for 40 years. He’s an ATP typed in the B737 and DC9 with 20,000 hours. A retired Air Force Major, he flew the F-16 then performed as a USAF Civil Air Patrol Liaison Officer. He flies volunteer missions for the Christian organiza- tion Wings of Mercy, is employed by a major airline, and owns and oper- ates a Beechcraft Duke. Contact Kevin at.Dinger10d@gmail.com.MAY 2014 TWIN & TURBINE • 25